Just Living Life

Welp, I haven't been on here in a while because I just don't feel like there is much to blog about. I'm spending my days working and my nights cooking, hanging out with friends, watching TV/movies, reading, doing puzzles (crossword & jigsaw - and yes, I'm like a grandma), and the occasional working out.

I've been SUPER dizzy lately from the antibiotic I've been on for acne so no exercising for me right now or I'll literally fall over (which is highly likely for me even when I'm not dizzy...). However, I cut the meds down and dizziness is going away so I plan on starting up Jillian's Ripped in 30 for the month of July! Great news on the acne front - it's FINALLY clearing up! After over 3 months of antibiotic, nightly Retin-A cream, and very mild face washes, my face is looking better. For all those that experienced acne as a teen, I AM SO SORRY. I can't imagine having the face issues I've had recently while going through the harshness of middle school/high school. I mean, yes, I'm SUPER annoyed at being (almost) 25 and having terrible acne, but I might rather have it now than middle school!

Tomorrow is Friday and I'm thrilled! I have a wedding to go to Saturday and I have lots of meal plans with lots of different friends over the weekend! Then, Sunday, you can find me by the pool since there isn't a 3 day weekend for July 4th this year!

Back in the Kitchen

The above pics are a depiction of my Saturday...it was glorious. That was my plan for today too until my body decided it wanted to wake up the dizziest I've been in a long time. So, no sun & heat for me today :( but I did nap (twice) and plan meals for the week! (more on that later) So, it was an equally relaxing and enjoyable Sunday afternoon!

Now on to the main point of the post...the craziness of the past 2 months of my life (out of town ALL.THE.TIME) kept me from cooking. I've come to love cooking over the past 1.5 years of living on my own so 2 months without it is too long!! Well, I'm back! This afternoon, I spent a good 1.5 hours browsing pinterest & food websites for new ideas & recipes. I made my menu for the next 2 weeks and I'm heading to the store soon for this weeks list! I'm so so so excited to be back in kitchen! (my waistline and scale are also excited...)

Lifestyle update: The last 2 months led to little-no exercise and lots of fast food. The weight I lost....well, some of it has been found again. However, the next 6 months of my life look to be conducive to eating healthy and exercise. This girl is thrilled! I have 3 new Jillians I'm about to start (well, 1 at a time. Otherwise, I might die). I plan on nixing fast food and eating at home. I'm not going to cut out sweets or breads or drastic things like that. When I do that, I crave them. BAD. So, I'm going to eat fruits and veggies, drink water, practice portion control and smart eating...THIS will lead to a doable lifestyle change and to weight loss/control.

Also conducive to eating healthy & cooking at home is our new KROGER MARKETPLACE! Guys, if your town doesn't have one, visit Central Arkansas. We have 2 (1 in my town and 1 30 minutes away). LEGIT grocery store. The first few times you visit, your trip will be about 3 times as long as normal because you have to find where they put everything (oh, just me? whoops...) But, it's well worth it for all the  items they offer and the huge produce section. And, I don't mind the long trips. I enjoy my wal-mart and grocery store trips. I know I'm weird for this but something about it is enjoyable to me!

I'll leave you with this weeks menu and I'll post updates later:
Breakfast:
Cereal or Crockpot Morning Casserole

Lunch:
Leftovers
PB&J (my new obsession for another post)
Salads - spinach leaves, strawberries, blueberries, sunflower seeds, etc

Dinner:
Shrimp & Pesto Pizza
Ranch Chicken Tacos w/salsa & guac
Double Crusted Honey Pork Chops w/brown rice & steamed broccoli

Have a great week!

Will There Be Beaches in Heaven?

I really hope so! If there aren't, I know there will be things even more beautiful! But, I really really really love the beach! Yesterday, I went to a town outside of Destin, with some staff friends, called Rosemary Beach. It's the cutest little beach town with cobblestone streets and buildings that look like Italy. We laid out on the beach for a while and then explored a bit. We sat in a cute cupcake shop (and, of course, got a cupcake). Then, we had dinner at a little restaurant called Cowgirl Kitchen. We passed our plates around and ate family style. It was a perfect 1st day in FL! So refreshing and encouraging to be around staff friends!

Today, I'm going to spend some time doing office work (can't forget my normal job duties even though I'm at the beach!) and then spend some time with Molly, my dgroup leader 5 years ago!!! There might be some pool time, some dinner, and a little OKC Thunder watching going on too! :)

Happy Monday friends! 

ps-Mondays would be a lot better if they were all spent at the beach ;)

If Every Weekend Were a 3-Day Weekend

Why can't every weekend be a 3-day weekend? My SIL & I contemplated this very question at lunch yesterday, while sitting on the screened in porch after a long boat ride.

If every weekend were a 3-day weekend:
-I would be uber bronze in the summer.
-I could deal better with being tired during the week.
-I would have more time to cook and clean and would ultimately be more productive (as a result of being able to deal with being tired because I know I'd be getting plenty of sleep on the weekend).
-There would be more time with fam & friends.
-I could travel even more. 

However, every weekend is not a 3-day weekend so I'm going to cherish the ones I have!

This past weekend was PERFECT in every way.

Thursday night, I headed to Hot Springs with my bros. We met up with my SIL for dinner, then headed to the gparents house. We just hung out, laughed, watched some TV, & went to bed.

Friday, I had my DOP on the screened in porch. It was incredible. Great day! That evening, the kiddos, aunt & uncle, & my mom arrived.

Saturday, I woke up and cooked cinnamon rolls for everyone. I had a great time letting Joshua help me out! (love that kid!) We spent the day on the dock laying out. Literally, all day. LOVED it.

Sunday, we went out on the boat! There are 2 lakes that back up to each other in HS - Ouachita & Hamilton. We grew up going to Ouachita but now my gparents live on Hamilton so we go there. Where the 2 lakes meet, there is a dam that pulls water from the bottom of Ouachita into Hamilton. We call it the "cold water." It's become a tradition to go there and jump in whenever we go out on the boat as a whole fam. However, we've never done it this early in the year. We normally go for July 4th or Labor Day. Guys, the water was FREE.ZING. (yes, read that as 2 syllables for the full effect). I'm talking colder than white water rafting or intertubing the Blue River in Colorado. It takes your breath away. But, I did it! And it was worth it because once you get out into the 90* heat, you feel fine. Such a fun day!

Heading to the cold water!

Sunday night we went out on the boat for fireworks. They weren't as good as years past but it's still fun to go out on the boat at night!

Since Monday was the last day, I started it early. On the dock at 11, out on the boat around noon, short lunch break, back to the dock until 3:30.

Incredible weekend full of family, food, SUN, boat rides, laughter, & sleep! I loved it. Now, I have a great base tan to take with me to Destin! Counting down until I leave on Saturday. Can't wait for 10 days in Destin & lots of fun times with our staff and students!

Today is Dragging....

Lately, my work days have been FLYING by. However, today, it's going so so slow. I think it's because tomorrow is my DOP, so I won't be in the office, and then it's a 3-DAY WEEKEND ON THE LAKE!!!!!!!!!!! Man, I can't wait to lay on the dock for 3 days straight - sweating, swimming, and soaking up the sun. Pure bliss.

that dock right there...that's where I'll be if you need me!

Happy Memorial Day!

I Heart Weekends

I LOVE weekends. Whether it's a calm, lazy weekend around my apt or a weekend out of town for something, I love them! I love the fellowship it allows. I love the adventure. I love the events and special times. I even love the later nights which lead to later mornings and naps.

This past weekend I was in Tulsa, OK for one of my besties weddings!!!!! Oh my. It was such a fun weekend. I got there Thursday night to start on the festivities. We stayed up late watching movies & hanging out. Friday morning, the girls went to get our nails done & then headed to the Bridal Luncheon. Friday afternoon, we headed to the wedding site (also where we were staying for the weekend) and got settled in before rehearsal. The Rehearsal Dinner was a flippin'  blast!!! It was western themed so most people had on cowboy boots. Then, we square danced!!! Holy cow. What a fun time!! I loved it! After square dancing, the wedding party went to the hot tub/pool and hung out!

Saturday was WEDDING DAY! We decorated the ceremony site and reception site in the morning and then spent the afternoon getting ready and taking pics. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL! Everything was perfectly Taylor and Hayley and so sweet. The reception was fun and the site was so cute. After the bride & groom left, we cleaned up and did what anyone would do...went to QT. So fun!

Sunday, I met up with Laura at Utica Sqaure. We went to church, lunch with her fam, Mayfest, Blue Dome District fest, & headed to Tad and Emily's wedding at the Tulsa Rose Garden.

The weekend of weddings was a blast but less than 6 hours a sleep each night caught up to me! Yesterday was  a rough day at work and I needed lots of sleep last night. I still plan on going to bed early tonight too :) My body can only run off of adrenaline for so long.

I'm pumped for this weekend of relaxation ahead...3 days on the dock in the 90 degree weather with 0% chance of rain. I'll take it!!!

The Day I Couldn't Get Warm

Yep...that would be today. It's 84* outside and I have my space heater on full blast in my office. I'm now that girl - you know, the one that's cold ALL the time. Thank you hormones. Thank you sped up metabolism (seriously, thank you for speeding up!). Thank you almost-25-year-old body for changing your mind this late in the game. I used to be the other that girl - yeah, the one that was HOT all the time. Don't get me wrong...if it's hot outside and I'm outside, I will still be hot and sweaty (I sweat like a man). But, I now find myself freezing inside most places. Guess I'll have to start carrying my pink polka-dotted blanket around ;)

Stay warm, friends!

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

I have the best friends ever!!! Huge thanks to Chris & Melissa and Nick & Megan for letting me use one of their cars while mine was in the shop!! Holy cow are my friends servants. Their willingness to let me use a car for 1-2 days at a time is such a blessing. Even in the midst of frustrating car problems, God reminded me of His faithfulness and provision through these amazing friends! Love them!

And...skyping with friends in India always reminds me of how blessed I am too! I got to Skype with Alison this a.m. and Grant, Nicole, & Baby Jack and Kelsey tonight. Love my friends!!

Basking in God's faithfulness and His blessings as I drift off to sleep...

It's a Monday

Symptoms of a Monday:
-I woke up after CRAZY dreams 4 different times last night
-My contacts wouldn't go in this morning
-My car needs to be towed
-My car's water pump blew it's gasket

But:
-My God is Sovereign
-My God provides
-My God speaks to me
-My God loves
-My God hears my prayers
-My family & friends are incredible and drive me around and let me use their cars
-I have the money to pay for my car (because of point 2 above)
-My brother, Chandler, helps me deal with my car needing to be towed and water pump replaced
-I get to eat at Marketplace Grill tonight with 2 incredible friends, courtesy of my amazing boss
-After the water pump is replaced, basically everything under my hood is new within the last 3 years

So, in the midst of a terrible case of the Mondays, my God is with me and He knew how this whole day would pan out way before all of this happened. Thanking Him for His presence and His plan, even in the midst of frustration!!

no motivation

i've been m.i.a. because i've had NO motivation to write a new post. life and work and sleep habits and eating habits have been crazy crazy busy and out of whack. so much so that i sleep in any free time i have. hence the no posts in a million years.

recap:
-i've been out of town the past 17 weekends (exaggeration but it's been at least the past 5)
-april staff training in tulsa 1.5 weeks ago for 6 days
-a million projects and to-do lists at work to prep our summer events
-finishing perspectives (it's over! i loved it but i'm pumped for the extra time)
-sleeping and relaxing all weekend at the lake this past weekend (to recover from april staff training sleep deficit)
-staying up 'til at least 12 or 1 or 2 every night at AST (i quickly found out i'm no longer a college student)
-still loving my macbook pro
-pumped to start eating healthy and working out again next week - will be using some healthy pinterest recipes now that i have a working computer
-love my fam - loved the time with them at the lake

random: i took a nap after work today and now i'm getting everything crossed off my home to-do list...at 9:30pm when i should be winding down

next post...my plan to switch all my makeup products to e.l.f. products. get excited! :)